Sample case and sales system



.3mm m25., 3,523,783

W. D. LANsasEN SAMPLE CASE AND SALES SYSTEM Filed March lO, 1923 C el www1 i ot ffnung Patented Jan. ZO, 1925.

PATENT OFFICE.

WILLIAM BILLARD LANSDEN, OF NASHVILLE, TENNESSEE.

SAMPLE CASE AND SALES SYSTEM,

Application led March 10, 1923.

To all 'whom t may concern:

Be it knownthat VILLIAM BILLARD LANs- DEN, a citizen of the United States, residing at Nashville, in the county of Davidson and State of Tennessee, has invent/ed certain new and useful Improvements in Sample Cases and Sales Systems, of which the following is a. specification.

This invention relates to a novel means for exhibiting samples of goods forsale and providing for the sale of such goods without the use of the usual traveling salesmen.

This invention contemplates and includes a sample case adapted for transportation by mail and provides for the retention and eX hibition of a series of addresses and stamps whereby such sample case is directed in transportation from one prospective customer to another to such extent as may be desired, and finally returned to its owner.

Another object is to include within the sample case a card or letter retainer for holding and supplying a plurality of addressed and stamped order blanks.

@ther objects will be indicated by a care ful reading of the following specification and inspection of the attached drawing, the latter forming a part of this specification in which similar characters of reference designate corresponding parts throughout the several views, in which:-

Figure l is a top plan view of a sample case showing the cards or envelopes in position in the retainers.

Figure 2 is a plan view of the top of the cards used on the outside.

Figure 3 is a View of the back of one of the cards in Figure 2.

Figure 4 is a top plan view of one of the order blanks used and carried on the inside retainer, and

Figure 5 is a plan View of the back side of the form shown in Figure 4.

To carry out the invention a sample case or receptacle is provided and may be of any suitable size and construction to enable its transportation through the mail and to provide for the reception of such samples of goods and materials as may be for sale. This sample case is indicated by reference character A and card retainers are provided on the outside as at B and on the inside as at C. These card or letter retainers are made the subject matter of a co-pending application and are therefore not herein specifically described.

Serial No. 624,074.

Generally the outside retainer B 'includes the side and bottom oppositely flanged sheet metal strips, and the top member, the latter being spaced equi-distant the top ends of the side members. The inwardly projecting flanges engage and retain cards or envelopes arranged there between and the outwardly extending flanges engage the outer face of the top of the sample case and receive the fastening nails or rivets. The inner retainer comprises two parallel flanged walls of similar cross section and purpose as the walls of the outer retainer.

Arranged in the outer card retainers are a series of cards l each addressed to a different individual or firm with whom' it is" desired to do business and the last of the series 2 contains the address of the company or individual to whom the sample case belongs and to whom same will be ultimately delivered as will more clearly hereinafter appear. The upper right hand corner 3 of each of the cards is provided with sufiicient postage to carry the case to the next destination in the mails. The reverse or uneXposed side of the cards (see Figure 3) contains suitable information or instructions as at 4 to cause the proper proceedings by the various individuals handling same. Carried by the card retainer C within the case are the stamped and addressed order blanks illustrated in Figs. il and 5. These blanks may be of any approved type such as will permit. the proper carrying out of the present system. In the form shown these blanks comprise a paper body uniformly divided into three main sections 5, 6, and 7 by suitable perforations 8, and the flap portion 9. The 'upper section 5 has printed on its outside the address of the owner of the case and a suitable stamp to carry same through the mail. The other sections are blank on the outside and on the inside as at l0 there is printed throughout the entire length of the blank suitable matter for an order blank, The inside of the flap 9 is provided with a suitable adhesive material. From the foregoing it will be obvious that the blank can be folded inwardly along the perforations beginning at the lower section 7 and can be closed and sealed by the flap. This operation will expose the address and the stamp in the proper manner.

Presuming now that a company has for the purpose of sale a number of articles and his customers are located, as is quite com- 'us d.

''t'he vario'iis ctistoiiijers "tindproperly 'stamped `lvivith sufficient postage. this `outer`c`ontainer Will beaddrcss'ed to the V"coinpany oivning the zsample case. entire varrangenient is ltheniplac'ed in vthe "Iiiailsfantl Will bedelivered to "the customer The last "card in The "cns'toiner will remove fthe card `and note elthe linstructions contained 'on the back thereof.

He will then in accordance with these inon the proper blank furnished and'lield by *the iiiiierretainerandplacethe same in the mails.

The samplec'ase `ivill also be placed in the mail andkfivill proceed to the next on the outside. This proceeding will continue --un't-iltlie "final 'card is reached which directs the sample case back `to 'the "owner u l"()bvioiisly the foregoing', 'method of eX- liibitingfgoods :for sale`to distant customers vand the placin'gfof'ordes for "such goods ivillfeliminate the necessityof 'having salesmen on the road, which latter involves such expense fas 'railroad fa-re, yhotel bills, 'and generalwtravelin and :will i ermit the sale ofi goods aticomparatively re lucedfratc.

It will also be obvious that various changes in the mannerofrcarrying out this 'iiiet-lio'd may 'be Dmade, 'it Being apparent thatifariousy advertising methods may be utilized incn'jiinction with same.

What is claimed as new and useful and desired to be secured by Letters Patent isl. A sales system device comprising 'a sample `case "adaptedto contain samples of `ronds 'to be "sold, outer card retainer connected `to thev case, a plurality of ad- 'dressed `and stampedlnailable `articles in said retainer containing the `addresses of Aprospectivecustomers., a mailable article in the outer container normally concealed by the first lmentioned artlclesjand containlng the'address Aof the sender, the .back ot each oncofythe first mentioned articles being an 'ranged directly in front of Lthe succeeding articles, 'sol that normally only the address on the outer one of the first mentioned `mailing articles is visible.

'2. A sales system device coxnfprising a case adapted to `contain samples ofgoods to, be sold, a container connected lto the outer side ofisaid case, ajstack of addressed fand stamped mailing articles in said container and containing the addresses'offprospective customers, the outermost articleof the stack 'normally concealing fthe addresseson the following articles, and nas'urface containing the addressof 'the senderand stamps for the return of the case, arranged behind and normally concealed by said articles*` y Intestimony wliereof I affix my. signature.

WILLIM DIL-LARI) 'LNNSDEN 

